Cinnamon-breasted Tit (Melaniparus pallidiventris) [XC201168]
by id from Manyoni, Singida, Tanzania (call)
Subspecies
Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) and Cinnamon-breasted Tit (Melaniparus pallidiventris) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) have been lumped into Parus rufiventris following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993). The BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group is aware that phylogenetic analyses have been published which have proposed generic rearrangements which may affect this species, but prefers to wait until work by other taxonomists reveals how these changes affect the entire groups involved.
Forms a superspecies with Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) and Red-throated Tit (Melaniparus fringillinus). Has been considered conspecific with Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris), but differs in eye colour (possibly age-related) and belly colour (varies clinally).
Hybridization not proven, and identity of supposed intermediates (based chiefly on eye coloration) uncertain. Further research required. Subspecies intergrade in Mozambique.
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris).
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
pallidiventris (Reichenow, 1885) - Tanzania, southern Malawi and northern Mozambique. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris).
stenotopicus (Clancey, 1989) - Eastern Zimbabwe and west-central Mozambique.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet